Our People

Pender Murphy

Founder/Coach

#1 player, captain, and All-America at Clemson University; voted one of the ACC’s top 50 all-time players; achieved an ATP world ranking of 102; member of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Charlotte Latin High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Pender worked for many years in commercial real estate with some of his best friends. Now, along with TLA, he tutors at several CMS elementary schools.

Pender continues to try to lower the "running while criss-cross jump roping” 400 meter world record he set in 2013. It is thought that Pender’s advancement in age will be offset by improved technique.

pendermurphy914@gmail.com

  • Charlotte native
  • Clemson University Graduate
  • Family: Patti, Farrell and Tricia

Jeff Beard

Director/Coach Emeritus

Jeff is a native of Fresno, CA and a graduate of the University of Florida.  He worked for 30 years in Department Store Merchandise Management.  He is married to Nancy and they have one son, Kevin.  Along with TLA, Jeff is the Junior Team Tennis Expansion Coordinator for the Charlotte Tennis Association and also a long-time volunteer with Special Olympics tennis.  He is teaching a generation of players the “flashlight” forehand and backhand.

In April of 2018 Jeff moved to the Washington D.C area so he could be near his new grandson, Ken. Also so he could get “emeritus” in his title. We miss Jeff every day.

jlbeard20@gmail.com

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Andy Avram

Director/Coach

Andy is a native of Winston-Salem and a graduate of Wake Forest University, where he was the #1 player. He has won over 20 North Carolina state titles and is a member of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. He still plays about every day. He makes up for diminished court mobility with increased court savvy.

Prior to going into the practice of law, Andy worked as an assistant coach at Clemson and Wake Forest University, served as Head Coach at McCallie School in Tennessee, and worked as a teaching pro at clubs in Greensboro, NC and in Germany.

maa@cshlaw.com

  • Charlotte attorney
  • Family: Tammy, Ally and Gabe
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(Pender, Jeff, and Andy receive no compensation.)

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